Bright Spring

When she just walked to a door, she noticed from the corner of her eye that Li Li looked back again.

Ruan is not unfamiliar with this at all... just now Li Li's emotions have obviously risen, he suddenly became enthusiastic, and his complicated eyes that seem to be very polite and full of thoughts; she is almost used to seeing him. Strange, more than one man would have that look when he saw her.

It's nothing more than when they see a beautiful woman, they have unreasonable thoughts, but they are hypocritical.

But if Li Li knew about Ruan's "experience", would he let go of his hypocrisy?Will he ask why the "boat bandits" can take advantage of Ruan's advantage, but why not let him take advantage of it?

Ruan Shi was very sensitive under his preoccupation.Such a subtle meaning would naturally make Ruan feel a sense of being belittled by others. Thinking of this, she also had some inexplicable dislike for Li Li.

... Li Li walked outside the hall, just as Ruan Jian walked out of the room.Ruan Jian made a bow and said, "Someone loses and welcomes far away, and some loses and welcomes far away."

"Where. It's getting dark, the king came here at this time, he didn't want to be seen by too many people, so he came in by himself, don't blame Ruan Shilang." Li Li replied.

Ruan Jian made a gesture: "Please."

When Li Li walked into the living room, Ruan Jian directly closed the door tightly.

The light outside gradually dimmed, and as soon as the door was closed, the room was suddenly dark again.Before Ruan Jian started to light the lamp, he asked Li Li to take a seat on a chair.Sitting in the dark room, the two looked even more mysterious.

Ruan Jian said, "The emperor ordered King Pingding to retreat to the south. But the officials think that it doesn't seem to matter to resist the order now..."

After hearing this, Li Li said happily: "If Minister Ruan has such an intention, you and I are already in the same heart, why not work together for a great cause in the future!"

Ruan Jian hurriedly said, "King Ping Ding will not give up, how dare the officials not be dedicated?"

Li Li said: "Very good. Chen Jizuo is finished, what imperial decree is just a piece of waste paper, don't pay attention to it! It's a pity that Chen Jizuo had so many troops and strength, but it didn't help at all. Alas! Defeat It was too fast. If this king had [-]% of his troops, the matter would not have ended like this."

Ruan Jian nodded in agreement, but murmured, "I have thought about it again and again. King Ping Ding can ignore the imperial decree, but he should withdraw his troops at this time."

"What?" Li Li was surprised.

Ruan Jian said: "The emperor is defeated, and soon all the powerful will take risks to protect themselves, and the Ming army will focus on attacking some forces. Therefore, the officials thought that the general situation is no longer, and now whoever is the leader will be in danger; in the end It’s better to put down the flags and drums, and wait for the opportunity again. As a last resort, King Pingding can still accept the Ming court’s recruitment, and first protect himself and accumulate strength. But if the limelight is too strong, I’m afraid it’s not a good thing.”

Li Li pondered for a long time after hearing this, and said: "Ruan Shilang is right. But since I have been called 'King Ping Ding' and have a good reputation, will the ship bandits let me go easily? At this time, they want to let the Ming court Know how powerful I am, and then you will be qualified to show favor to the Ming court and strive for peace."

Ruan Jian persuaded again: "Ping Ding Wang doesn't have many troops, and he doesn't have much land and food. The situation is very dangerous."

Li Li said: "Now the rebels from all walks of life have been terrified by the ship bandits; we need a victory to let the rebels understand that the ship bandits are not gods and ghosts, but mortals! At that time, we can also become famous and get more recognition. With the support of many people, isn't strength accumulating more?"

When Ruan Jian heard this, he was noncommittal.

Li Li glanced at him, and said: "Ruan Shilang has far-reaching knowledge, which is beyond the comparison of ordinary civil servants. This king will definitely remember Ruan Shilang's warning."

After hearing this, Ruan Jian finally stopped persuading.He took out a piece of paper from his sleeve pocket and said, "Since King Ping Ding is determined, I have some subtle suggestions for your military strategy."

Li Li happily said: "This king is all ears."

Ruan Jian unfolded the paper and took a look, then got up to light the lamp.The two are ready to talk at night by candlelight.

Chapter 748 The Painful Lesson

Early the next morning, Li Li and Ruan Jian left Yanzhou on horseback and came to the bank of a river called Songlai River.This place is located in the north of Yanzhou City, only tens of miles away.

There was a team of guards beside them, only Ruan Jian and the other two looked very tired, it was because they slept too short after talking at night by candlelight last night.

The small team crossed the Songlai River through an arch bridge made of bamboo and wood.They ran north along the main road for a while, and soon saw a military stronghold built on a mountain forest.

Ruan Jian followed Li Li leading the horse up the small hill, and saw fences in the bushes, earthen wall fortifications, and some sheds.The soldiers inside came to see Li Li one after another, it seems that they are all Li Li's subordinates.But the garrison here is not many, maybe only more than 100 people.

Several people walked out of the military camp and came to a stand near the hillside. It was a hemp stone protruding from the soil.

Ruan Jian looked to the north, and he could see the surface of the Songlai River, which flows in a roughly north-south direction near here, and is located on the east side of the main road; on the west side of the main road, there is a large forest, with lush trees blocking the view. From beginning to end, there seems to be no end.

The road ahead was undoubtedly a passage with narrow terrain.

Ruan Jian watched for a while, then asked, "Will the Ming army definitely take this route? Will they choose a place to cross the river from the east?"

Although the river in front flows north-south, the rivers not far from the sea will flow into the sea and must extend eastward; if the Ming army can find a ferry in the east, then they will not have to take this narrow road , you can avoid being caught in the middle of the big mountains and rivers.

Li Liyao pointed to the east, but human eyes could not see where he was pointing, "There is a large swamp on the east bank, which is not conducive to large groups of troops marching. What's more, if the boat bandits continue southward from there, the road will be difficult." Blocked by the mountains and forests, they have to go west. So the road under our feet is the shortest road."

Ruan Jian nodded.

Li Li said again, "I've heard something about Liu Sheng. This person should think highly of himself; this time the war against the ship bandits is progressing very smoothly, ordinary people will inevitably underestimate the enemy, let alone Liu Sheng? I guess, Liu Sheng Knowing that we are guarding the dangerous point, we will not choose to detour, but want to attack and destroy the stronghold."

Ruan Jian said convincingly, "King Pingding has a clever plan, and his words are reasonable."

Li Li straightened his chest and pointed to the road ahead, "I have set up three military forts on this section of the road. With our strength, of course we can't stop the Ming army, but Liu Sheng will be more underestimating the enemy if he pulls out several forts. It is the role of these military strongholds."

He paused for a while and looked back, "The defeated soldiers of the Vietnamese army will retreat south from the bridge just now, and wait for the boat bandits to rush to chase them. Then we will burn the bridge and send the pursuers and their main force to the south. Cut off; the Vietnamese soldiers and horses ambushing in the surrounding mountains and forests, take the opportunity to fight out! We can't defeat 1 boat pirates, can't we destroy one or two hundred people?"

When Li Li said this, he sneered and said, "Our army is at the Songlai River. First, we will teach the boat bandits a painful lesson. Next, there is a large section of mountain and forest roads in the north of Yanzhou City. The matter is not over yet. This king wants to let the boat bandits go on this road." Pay the price!"

Ruan Jian said, "If we plan to kill Liu Sheng himself as we predicted last night, maybe the Ming army will retreat."

Li Li nodded and said, "What Ruan Shilang said is very true. The boat bandits also know that the Da Viet River is densely covered with paddy fields and dense forests. Liu Sheng's department must come here by boat, so there must not be many cavalry. Except for the scouts who inquired about the news, most of the only fine cavalry belonged to the general. Guards. If Liu Sheng is in a hurry to pursue, maybe he will personally lead the fine cavalry to come."

Ruan Jian stopped talking, still looking at the mountains and rivers ahead.He exhaled slowly, as if the suffocation in his chest was also emptied.

Since the "Great Viet" started the war with the Ming Dynasty, all the wars have been like a collapsed embankment, and the Vietnamese army will be defeated in any battle; at this time, Ruan Jian has at least seen hope.

...In late October, a major force of the Ming army had arrived near the Songlai River.

The sound of "Boom..." finally sounded in the south, like thunder from the sky, familiar and exciting.

After Liu Sheng led his army out of Qinghua City, he had marched for more than a hundred li, without any fighting along the way, until this morning, he finally heard the sound of artillery again.

At this time, Liu Sheng was a little worried and happy.If the Ming army has not encountered resistance, the army will march to the city of Yanzhou in a day's time; but it seems that the rebels also know that they are just fleeing, and I am afraid that there are not so many places to run.

The vanguard of the Ming army was fighting, and the outpost troops had stopped marching on the main road.Both sides of the road are full of resting soldiers, but there is also a place for the soldiers who are riding horses to spread messages.

After Liu Sheng waited for a long time, he took his own soldiers and cavalry and rushed straight ahead.

When a group of people rushed to the place of the vanguard, the sound of the artillery had already subsided.Liu Sheng sat on the horseback and looked at the scene ahead.

There is sparse mist in the humid air, surrounded by trees, and the road is still shrouded in gradually dispersed gunpowder smoke.On the side of a winding road in the distance, on the hill facing the road, is the rebel army camp; but at this time it has been occupied by the Ming army.

The flag of the Ming army was flying in the forest, and some infantry were still rushing into the forest one after another.

After a while, the vanguard soldiers seemed to see Liu Sheng's handsome flag, and a general came to report the military situation on horseback.The general got off his horse and cupped his fists and said, "Commander, we have captured this stronghold. The rebels scattered and ran to the south. The scouts discovered that there is another army stronghold in front to meet the defeated rebels."

Liu Sheng said, "Go and deliver the order. The soldiers in front don't have to wait for the cannons to be fired. Once the men and horses arrive at the enemy camp, attack immediately!"

"Decree!" The general cupped his fists and bowed, and took away an order flag.

These rebels thought that they could stop the Ming army by occupying the dangerous position of the road they had to pass through;

When Liu Sheng led his troops to the front line, he found that the soldiers had already started to attack the second enemy village.